Delta’s decision to go year-round on JFK-Zurich Airport celebrated in style with New York-themed cake

To celebrate the introduction of year-round services between Zurich and New York JFK, Delta Air Lines held an event at Zurich Airport on Tuesday 2 September. Joining in the celebrations were: Vincent Kas, GM Alps & Balkans, Air France KLM; Bob ‘I learnt German to appreciate Kafka’ Hannah, Regional Director Sales EMEA, Delta Air Lines; Suzanne LeVine, US Ambassador to Switzerland; and Thomas Brandt, Country Sales Manager, Germany Switzerland Austria, Delta Air Lines. A photo ceremony was also held on the apron for all those attending the ‘new era’ for Delta’s services in Switzerland.

Delta Air Lines this week converted its previously seasonal service between New York JFK and Zurich to a year-round service. To celebrate what the airline called ‘a new era for Delta in Switzerland’, the airline held a reception at Zurich Airport on Tuesday 2 September. Attending the event were around 30 people including airline staff from across SkyTeam member airlines, local travel agents and tour operators, local press and anna.aero.

Delta first began serving Zurich in 1991 after taking over the operations of PanAm. New York services were operated daily until after 9/11 when the service was reduced to a summer seasonal operation, complementing the airline’s year-round service to Atlanta. With the JFK service now becoming daily, the Atlanta service becomes a summer seasonal service. The Zurich-JFK route is also served by American Airlines and SWISS, while there are additional services from Zurich to Newark operated by Star Alliance partners SWISS and United Airlines.

Cake time! Cutting the New York-themed cake were Thomas Brandt, Country Sales Manager, Germany Switzerland Austria, Delta Air Lines and Noeli Morf, Station Manager Zurich, Delta Air Lines, as Ulrike Abels, the creator of the cake, looks on. Noeli and Thomas were then joined by: Sylvie Boulant, Country Manager Switzerland (current), Air France KLM; Yosra Ismail-Tekaya, Country Manager Switzerland (future), Air France KLM; Bon Hannah, Regional Director Sales EMEA, Delta Air Lines; and David Schildknecht, Station Manager Switzerland, Delta Air Lines. Not wanting to miss out on the excitement were the flight and cabin crew of that day’s flight to JFK. Ulrike Abels: The cake-maker and creator of several anna.aero Cakes of the Week for Zurich Airport

Ulrike Abels: Creator of anna.aero Cakes of the Week for Zurich Airport

anna.aero was given unique behind-the-scenes access this week to see what goes into producing a stunning cake fitting for such an occasion. German-born and trained Ulrike Abels had a dream as a 16-year-old to run a cake shop. This she has achieved with her Sweet Treat business located in Rupperswil, around 40 kilometres west of Zurich. Around 80% of her business is producing bespoke cakes for weddings and businesses, such as Zurich Airport, who have been a customer for a couple of years. In that time she has produced 17 route-launch related cakes, several of which have been awarded anna.aero’s prestigious Cake of the Week award.

Talking to anna.aero she revealed that the Delta/JFK cake had taken about 20 hours to produce. For this cake the filling comprises buttercream with raspberries, though other fillings have been used in the past. A second, more basic cake, was also produced for the event to ensure that all dignitaries, flight and cabin crew, and passengers would have a chance to celebrate Delta’s ‘new era’ with a piece of never-to-be-forgotten cake.

Sweet Treat sells some smaller cakes direct to the public from their store in Rupperswil. Anyone feeling guilty about the effects that such delicious products may have on their body, can take advantage of both the dance school and dentist which are located within metres of Sweet Treat’s front door.

anna.aero’s Ralph Anker and Ulrike Abels of Sweet Treat pose with the almost-completed main cake produced to celebrate Delta’s decision to make the JFK service from Zurich a year-round operation. A second more basic cake was also produced to ensure that everyone on the day would have a chance to try some ‘new era’ cake. Locals in Rupperswil can also pop in and purchase smaller treats such as decorated cupcakes, and then pop next door to the dance school or dentist, depending on what they feel most guilty about!